I have one of those USB to IDE adapters. I know the device works and I know the laptop drive works. But for some reason I can not mount it.


usb to ide device is similar to this one
http://www.dansdata.com/images/rdriv2/2ndplug800.jpg


dmesg

usb 1-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
scsi4 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
usb-storage: device found at 5
usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
Vendor: Model: Rev:
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Attached scsi disk sda at scsi4, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
usb-storage: device scan complete


But when I do fdisk -l as root it does not see it. If i try to mount it, it wont mount. Not a valid block device error.

Anyway to "force" it to mount?

lsusb doesn't recognize it either.

Do you know for sure what the drive geometry looks like? I know you can't see with fdisk, but since you know the drive works, do you also know it's structure? If so, maybe you can mount the proper partition and partition type without listing it...

If it's not a large drive (or you have the hard disk space), you might try making a copy of the drive with dd and then try to mount the image (or run testdisk on the image).

Have you tried using a different usb port? Is your usb to ide adaptor mains powered?

weird weird weird... must be a "power" issue. I put the same drive with the same adapter in my laptop USB port and its reading the contents just fine.


When I was having the problems it was on my desktop, plugged into the front USB port. Maybe its not getting enough power because its on a "hub" ?


Thanks!

Try the rear ports, I've always had an issue using my front ports for usb drives, even powered ones!